The Ferrari (NYSE:RACE) Challenge is the Ultimate Aficionado’s Hobby

Racing the Ferrari Challenge from Laguna Seca to Watkins Glen is an expensive hobby.

So far, more than 1,000 gentlemen and gentlewomen racers have participated in the Ferrari Challenge on 3 continents since the series began in Y 1992, making it the world’s oldest 1-marque special racing series.

In North America, the Challenge started with race-modified Ferrari 348’s in Y 1993, then evolved through the 355, 360, F430 Challenge, and 458 Evo models.

One of the most successful teams, California-based Scuderia Corsa, is fielding 15 cars at Laguna Seca, in both the Challenge and the team’s professional, Championship-contending Ferrari IMSA entries at Mid-Ohio.

This year, Ferrari is experimenting with a $40,000 parts allowance for each driver in the 6-race series, a trailer in the paddock offers everything from body panels to suspension bits.

In racing car terms, the $330,000 488 Challenge car is reasonably priced. That is less money than the 488 GTB, a $358,000 Supercar that will run 171+ mph on the long straight at Ferrari’s factory track at Maranello.

The 488 racer is really better than the street 488 in terms of lateral grip, aerodynamics, braking, cooling, and on-track safety.

The Big Q: What do you get for the 488 racer at $330,000?

The Big A: You get a Ferrari that can circle the Maranello outfit’s Fiorano test track in 1 min, 15.5 secs—or 4.2 secs faster than a $1-M+ LaFerrari.

And, the 488 Challenge car drives a lot like the street version 488, only dialed up to 11. It is louder, wilder and tighter, its sensitive steering, precise chassis and powerful carbon-ceramic brakes flood its driver with confidence, as happens in any Ferrari.

Take it from me they are thrilling, I have been driving them for 50 years.